Following the 2010 legislative session, significant changes were made in Maryland's sex offender registration laws. The O'Malley Administration and the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS), which oversees Maryland's Sex Offender Registry, have been busy implementing these news laws that take effect October 1st.Continued here

Collaborative Offender Management/Enforcement and Treatment teams from the Division of Parole and Probation (DPP), who are responsible for the management of sex offenders under supervision, attended a three-day training this past month. Sessions included supervision techniques such as GPS monitoring, polygraph testing and computer monitoring. Agents also got an in-depth overview of new laws passed during the 2010 legislative session. Learn more

One of the most unique restorative justice programs in the nation is in need of some lumber so that it can handle more horses that otherwise might be sent to the slaughterhouse.

Second Chances Farm on the grounds of Central Maryland Correctional Facility in Sykesville, where inmates care for retired thoroughbred racehorses who no longer have "value," can take six to eight more horses from our partner, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF). The horses are waiting for a home right now. But in order to accommodate those horses, Second Chances needs two additional run-in sheds for shelter.

The most notable changes include a new tier system for levels of registration, retroactive registration for sexual offense convictions and new guidelines for homeless registration.

The registry website will undergo changes this week to reflect levels of registration that now fall under Tier I - 15 years, Tier II - 25 years and Tier III - Lifetime registration. Those in Tier III will also now be required to re-register with local authorities four times a year, as opposed to twice a year for the two lower tiers. More detailed descriptors about offenders will also be added to the site over the next few months.

Letters went out recently to all registrants who will be affected by the change in Maryland registry laws. In addition, local authorities have been meeting with registered offenders leading up to the October 1 change to help with the transition. DPSCS supervision agencies and local detention centers have also started the process of identifying offenders who need to be registered due to retroactive registry.

A recent visit by a United Kingdom delegation highlighted DPSCS efforts to provide re-entry services to veterans not dishonorably discharged from military service. Through a partnership with the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs, former veterans nearing their release are maintaining grounds at state veterans cemeteries. Some offenders have actually been hired by the cemeteries after their release because of their work ethic and determination to succeed upon release.

Veterans groups behind the fence have also given back to the community while honoring fellow soldiers and veterans. The Roxbury Correctional Institution group holds a solemn outdoor ceremony on National POW-MIA Day in September and is currently preparing to send care packages to two Maryland units serving in Afghanistan. Items were donated by staff and will be boxed by members of the inmate group. The group has also been sending letters to the two units on a regular basis. Another Hagerstown prison veteran group is participating in America for the Library of Congress Veteran's History Project, which allows veterans to record their military service stories.

The UK delegation learned about these community service projects and other efforts geared towards this population, hopefully taking back a better understanding of progressive program ideas for incarcerated veterans. DPSCS is also working to expand their understanding of how many veterans are in our system, in an effort to provide re-entry, medical and other services at an earlier stage of incarceration.

The sheds are 12 feet by 32 feet, and would require a total of approximately $10-12,000 worth of lumber and building materials. Inmate labor would be used to construct the sheds. Inmates already have completed barn restoration, masonry, classroom construction, fencing, and virtually every other chore at the sixty acre farm in Sykesville.

Donations made to TRF would be tax-deductible. Anyone wishing to make a donation, please contact DPSCS at 410 339-5065, or visit our farm website for more information.

This farm is one of only eight in the nation, and teaches inmates invaluable "soft" skills, as well as carpentry, equine care, and other skills. DPSCS would like to expand to accommodate many more horses and teach a strong work ethic to more inmates, but not before the farm contains adequate shelter for the horses.